Tooth brush and powder container



NW. 17, 136. R, V zmmsu TOOTH BRUSH AND POWDER CONTAINER Filed Jan. 1l 1936 Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE 'roo'rn BRUSH Ann POWDER con'rnrnan Robert E. Ley, Dover, Ohio Application January 11,1936, Serial No. 58,721

11 Claims. (Cl. 132-84) It is desirable, especially in traveling, to carry onestooth brush in a sanitary container. Tooth powder or other dentifrice is usually carried in a separate container, and it is always inconvenient to keep two containers ready athand and manipulate both of them every time ones teeth are brushed.

This invention relates to a combined tooth brush and tooth powder container, and more particularly to a container in which some of the powder therein may be applied to the brush before it is removed from the container.

Certain prior containers which are adapted to house both the tooth brush and the tooth powder, have required first removing the brush and then shaking powder onto the brush from a powder compartment of the container.

Other prior containers have required removing a separate powder capsule from the main container and shaking powder from the capsule onto the brush. These operations are awkward and troublesome and inevitably result in spilling some of the powder.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an'improved combined tooth brush and powder container, in which a small amount of the powder may be deposited on the brush bristles with the container entirely closed.

Another object is to provide a combined tooth brush and powder container from which the brush may be easily removed ready for use.

A further object is to provide a combined tooth brush and tooth powder container having a rela-. tively large powder compartment which may be easily replenished at any time. 7 I

Another object is to provide a combined tooth brush and powder container in which the brush bristles may be moistened and powder from the container applied thereto before the container is opened.

A further object is to provide a combined tooth brush and powder container which has no loose parts to be detached from the container when the powder is applied to the brush and the brush removed for use. I

A still further object is to provide an improved tooth brush and powder container which is easy and convenient to use, and which ls'attractive, compact, lightweight,- and inexpensive to manu-r facture.

These and other objects are accomplished by the improvements comprising the present invention which may be stated in general terms as ineluding a container having abrush compartment and a powder compartment and means for providing communication between the compartments when the container is closed.

In the drawing forming part hereof:

Figure l is an elevation of one form of my invention in a partially open position;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof v in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view as on line 3. Fig.

Fig. 5 is a partial elevation as on line 55,

Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 7 is an end view thereof; and

Fig. 8 is a detached view partly in section of the powder compartment casing used in. the modified form of Fig. 6.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

The improved container shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive includes walls forming a casing indicated generally at 9 constituting a tooth powder compartment it, and a cover indicated generally at H hingedly connected to the casing e at one side of the powder compartment. The cover it is preferably substantially U-shaped in cross section and adapted to form with the casing 9 a brush compartment it at one side of and coextensive with the powder compartment it when the cover is closed, the brush compartment being adapted to contain a tooth brush and handle of any standard size.

Preferably a longitudinal partition Wall i3 divides the container into two compartments and constitutes the side of the powder compartment adjacent to the brush compartment.

The partition wall It is preferably formed with a gradual reverse curve at it to form a reduced portion H5 at one end of the powder compartment.

A closure member I6 is adapted to slidably fit in the other end of the powder compartment and provides a means of replenishing the powder therein. Preferably the closure member i6 is provided at its upper side with an angular portion ll terminating in the longitudinally extending flange it which acts to hold the handle end of the brush in position against the partition the side walls ofthe cover.

Thus the cover H, flange I8 and closure I6 are all connected together and may be disconnected as a unit from the powder compartment casing at any time by pushing against the flange l0 to slide the closure I6 out of the powder compartment.

Preferably, a side wall 22 is provided on the powder compartment casing 9 at one side thereof and forms one side of the brush compartment. The side wall 23 at the other side of the brush compartment is preferably cut away at the reduced end I5 as shown at 24, and the cover II is provided with an extension wall 25 which fits into the cut away portion 24 when the cover is closed.

Preferably the side wall 22 and the extension wall 25 are each provided with a series of apertures 26 for admitting air or moisture to the brush compartment.

As shown in Fig. 1 when the cover I I is opened, one side of the bristle end of the brush is exposed to facilitate its removal from the container.

At the reduced end portion I5 of the powder compartment, the partition wall I3 is provided with an elongated aperture 20 for providing communication between the powder compartment and the brush compartment adjacent the bristles 29 of a brush 30 therein. Movable means normally closing the opening 28 may include a slide or sleeve member 3| slidably mounted around the reduced end I5 of the powder compartment casing. The slide 3| is adapted to be moved longitudinally thereon to open or close the opening 28, as indicated in dot-dash lines in Fig. 1, and may be provided with a pin 32 extending through the opening 28 into the powder compartment for the purpose of loosening the powder and preventing it from caking at the opening 20.

The slide 3| is preferably provided at its lower side with a protuberance 33 for being engaged by the thumb or finger, and the slide extends through a slot 34 in the side wall 22 and between the extension wall 25 and partition wall I3 at the other side of the container, so that the slide may easily be moved longitudinally to the extent that the pin 32 can move in opening 28, by pushing upon the protuberance 33 at the outside of the container.

In using the improved container, assuming that the powder compartment is filled and the brush positioned in the brush compartment in closed position as shown in Fig. 3, the container is first inverted or turned upside down and the slide 3| is then moved toward the adjacent end of the container to uncover opening 28, by pressing upon the protuberance 33 of the slide.

By tapping the powder compartment lightly at the reduced end thereof a small amount of tooth powder will be deposited on the bristles 20 of the brush. If it is desired to moisten the bristles before the powder is applied, the same may be easily accomplished by holding the apertures 26 under a water faucet or the like prior to opening the slide 3|.

After the powder has been deposited on the brush the slide 3| is moved to close the opening 28 and the cover may then be swung to open position, whereupon the brush is easily removed ready for brushing the teeth.

The gradual curve shown at I4 in the partition wall I3 provides for feeding the powder into the reduced end of the powder compartment without any substantial caking thereof, and the slide 3| provides means operable externally of the container for depositing a small amount of powder on the bristles of the brush with the container closed so as to avoid any spilling of the powder.

The form of container shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 is generally similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, and is adapted to be used where it is desired to provide a capsule or powder refill container which may be sold already packed by the manufacturer. By means of this detachable refill powder casing, the old powder casing may be discarded when emptied, and replaced by a new one already packed by the manufacturer.

The form of improved container shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 preferably includes a powder capsule or casing indicated generally at I09 and having the same general shape as the powder compartment casing shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The casing I09 has the curved partition wall 3 at one side thereof forming the reduced end portion H5, and the partition wall 3 at the reduced end is provided with an opening I20 which is adapted to be closed by a movable slide I35. At its other end the casing I09 may be provided with a temporary closure I36 when it is filled with powder by the manufacturer.

The cover III is hinged to a closure cap member I31 by pins I20, and the closure member I31 fits slidably over the end of the casing I 09 and. also provides an end closure for the handle end of the brush I30.

Preferably, the straight part of the partition wall 3 along the large portion of the capsule, is dished or concave as indicated at 3', and the closure cap I31 has a concave partition wall I31 fitting over and conforming to the concave wall In this form of my invention, the cover III is provided with extended side walls I38 at each side of the bristle end of the brush compartment, for slightly overlapping the reduced end portion 5 of the powder compartment when the container is closed.

The extended side walls I38 are preferably each provided with a series of perforations I26 for admitting moisture or air to the brush compartment.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8, the slide I35 is shown slidably mounted on the reduced end portion II5 by means of ribs or tracks I40 on opposite sides of said portion H5, and the slide has side flanges I4I which are bent outward, around and under said ribs. Thus the slide may be operated with the finger at the side of the powder compartment instead of at the bottom, and the ribs I40 engaging the flanges I4| hold the slide closely against the powder opening I28.

Obviously, either type of slide 3| or I 35 may be used on either form of my invention.

In using the latter form of my invention, when the powder compartment casing I09 has been emptied, the same may be slid out of the closure I31 and discarded, and a new casing I09 filled with powder as shown in Fig. 8 may be inserted into the closure I31.

Both embodiments of my invention provide a combined container for bothtooth brush and tooth powder, in which a small amount of the powder may be deposited upon the brush before opening the container, thus avoiding the spilling of powder, and making the operation of preparing the tooth brush for use an extremely simple one. a

The improved container has no loose parts to be detached and is attractive, compact, light in weight, and easily used.

I claim:

1. A combined tooth brush and powder container includingwalls forming a brush compartment adapted for detachably containing a standard tooth brush having a handle, and a tooth powder compartment coextensive therewith, a wall of the brush compartment being hinged to the container to provide a cover forsaid brush compartment, a longitudinal partition wall between the compartments having an opening adjacent one end of the brush compartment, and movable means normally closing said opening.

2. A combined tooth brush and powder container including a casing forming a powder compartment, a cover substantially U-shaped in cross section and movably associated with said powder compartment to form a brush compartment at one side thereof for detachably' containing a standard tooth brush having a handle, the powder compartment casing being coextensive with said brush compartment 'and having an opening adjacent one end of the brush compartment, and movable-means operable externally of the container normally closing said opening.

3. In combination with a standard tooth brush having a handle, a tooth brush and powder container including walls forming a casing, a longitudinal partition wall dividing said easing into a a brush compartment and a powder compartment, said tooth brush being detachably contained in said brush compartment and said powder compartment being coextensive therewith, a longitudinal wall of the brush compartment being movable away from the powder compartment to open the brush compartment, the partition wall having an opening therein communicating with one end of the brush compartment, and movable 'means operable externally of the container for closing said opening.

4. A tooth brush and powder container substantially equal in length to a standard tooth brush having a handle and including a longitudinal partition wall dividing the container throughout its length into a brush compartment and a powder compartment, said partition wall having an opening communicating with one end of said brush compartment, an outside wall of the brush compartment at said end having apertures therein, and movable means operable externally of the container for closing the opening in said partition wall.

5. A tooth brush and powder container including a casing forming a powder compartment, a removable closure for one end of said compartment, a u-shaped cover hinged to said closure and forming a brush and handle compartment at one side of and coextensive with said powder compartment, said powder compartment casing having an opening adjacent one end of said brush compartment, and movable means operable outside of said casing for closing said opening. 6. A tooth brush and powder container includ+ ing a casing forming a powder compartment, one longitudinal wall of said casing being curved to form a reduced portion at one end of the compartment, a removable closure for the other end of said compartment, a U-shaped cover hinged to said closure and forming a brush and handle compartment at the curved wall side of and coextensive with said powder compartment, and said curved wall having an opening at said reduced end portion communicating with said brush compartment.

7. A tooth brush and powder container including a casing forming a powder compartment, one wall of said casing being curved to form a reduced portion at one end of the compartment, a removable closure for the other end of said compartment, a U-shaped cover hinged to said closure and forming a brush and handle compartment at one side of and coextensive with said powder compartment, said powder compartment casing having an opening in its reduced end portion communicating with said brush compartment, and a sleeve member slidably mounted around said reduced end portion for closing said opening.

8. A combined tooth brush and powder container including a casing forminga powder compartment, a cover substantially U-shaped in cross section and movably associated with said powder compartment to form a brush compartment at and coextensive with one side thereof, the powder compartment casing having an opening adjacent one end of the brush compartment, a slide movably mounted on said casing for closing said opening, and a pin on the slide extending into said powder compartment.

9. In combination with a tooth powder capsule having one side shaped to conform to the handle and bristles of a tooth brush, a removable closure for one end of said capsule, and a cover hinged to said closure for enclosing a tooth brush positioned along said shaped side .of said capsule.

10. In combination with a tooth powder capsule having one side shaped to conform to the handle and bristles of a tooth brush, a removable closure for one end of said capsule, a cover hinged to said closure for enclosing a tooth brush carried alongside of said capsule, the capsule having an opening therein at the end adjacent the brush bristles,

and a slide movably mounted on said'capsule for 

